Page 18 of Monster Diner

“I looked at the numbers from that flash sale. We actually made a profit, despite the chaos. I think you should take over the diner’s social media marketing,” Lizzy said as a way to distract Vivianne from her personal life.

“Really? ’Cause I have some ideas… Wait. You’re trying to distract me.” Vivianne jabbed a finger in Lizzy’s direction.

Lizzy sighed, and to delay further, she wiped the already clean countertop. “There’s nothing to share. Just some… flirting.”

“Okay, now we’re getting somewhere.” Vivianne rubbed her hands together. “Victor must really like you. I cannot think of the last time he dated. He’s so old-fashioned. He’ll probably ask you out to the soda shop or some shit.” She snorted.

“Even if he did, I’m not interested. I broke up with my long-term boyfriend a week ago.”

“That’s great!” Vivianne shouted.

“What?” Lizzy scowled.

“Not the breakup, for the two of you. You’re here a month. He’s a stick in the mud. You can fuck, have a good time, and move on with your lives.”

Lizzy stared at her, gape-mouthed. “You’re joking.”

Vivianne shrugged. “Look, I like Victor, but he works too much and has no life. Especially now that he’s got Brayden. He deserves a little fun, and if neither of you are looking for something with strings attached…”

Lizzy’s stomach fluttered. She’d never been the type to have one-night stands or casual sex. But that was the whole point of reinventing herself, right? Doing things outside her comfort zone? Victor seemed interested, and he knew that she wasn’t planning on staying, so he couldn’t have been expecting more…

The bell rang, interrupting that particular train of thought. Brayden shuffled into the diner, school bag slung over his shoulder. He glanced around the diner before taking a seat in one of the booths by the window in her section. She went over to greet him.

“Hey, Brayden. Hungry?”

“Nah. Waiting on my friends. They might order something. I dunno.” He pulled out his phone and started scrolling. She was about to walk away when she noticed a familiar character on his screen from a popular Hero Club franchise. She felt the way Brayden lit up at the sight of it, and her mutual interest compelled her to comment.

“I love Hero Club,” she blurted, pointing at his screen.

He scowled, but his emotional aura said he felt otherwise. He was intrigued, a bit surprised. “It’s rude to look at other people’s phones, you know.”

She laughed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Yeah, sorry, I saw Colonel Star and got excited. I’m obsessed with him. I totally ship him and Dark Skull.”

“Right?! They have way more chemistry than Colonel and Lady Mystery,” he said, face lighting up with excitement.

“Exactly. You into fic? I’ve read a few good Dark Star fics I can recommend.”

His eyes widened further, and he’d given up the pretense of pretending not to be interested. “That’d be awesome! I’m surprised you’re into that stuff ’cause you’re…, you know?”

“A middle-aged woman?” she prompted.

“Yeah.”

She shook her head and laughed. “That comic is older than my dad—” She choked on the word but recovered quickly. “Victor loved it too in high school.”

“What, no way! Victor only seems to care about work, just like my mo—” He cut himself off, and she sensed his emotional retreat. But beneath it, was a small ember of hope that someone would ask, would hold out a hand.

“I’m about to start my break. I could get you a milkshake, and we could talk about Hero Club.”

“I don’t like eating. Nothing tastes good since I got bit.”

“Victor seems to always eat everything spicy. Have you tried adding hot sauce?”

He shook his head. “It all tastes like ash, except for the meal replacement drinks. Those have a faint sweetness. That’s why I can stomach them.”

A thought crossed her mind. “What’s your favorite food?” she asked.

“I dunno.”